Pisac Peruvian Bistro – 16 Dupont St, Toronto, ON M5R 1V2
Country: Peru
Must-try dish: Lomo Saltado
Dinner guests: “Miguel”, Pornstar Sam, Suited Sebastien, V Baby & Young Matt 
Seating: There’s space for eight to ten people on the patio and a few tables inside with a private second floor that would be perfect for a private party
The high: This restaurant has a comfortable vibe and you get to chat with the friendly family members who are very involved in the restaurant. It’s the best spot in the city for traditional Peruvian fare. 
The low: We ordered a lot of food and couldn’t finish it all. 

Peru is Mandrea Bike’s 50th unique country visited in Toronto. As both Mat and Andrea have traveled to Peru and loved the food, it seemed like the perfect country to celebrate such an impressive milestone. The food tasted exactly how we remembered it back during our travels and even the small details were there such as the corn snacks that were brought to the table as a snack.

Pisac opened in February, a month before the pandemic so it’s still new to the city and likely the best Peruvian restaurant in the area. The owner used to own the Boulevard Cafe with his sister in Harbord Village, but started an individual venture aiming to feed Torontonians his country’s traditional dishes. He was manning the kitchen solo while his son took care of the front of house – the drinks, food and service were all excellent. 

Pisco sours were promptly ordered and were flowing all night between the courses. 

Here’s what was on order for food with the expertise of friends from Peru and Chile:

• Papa a la Huancaina: A dish hailing from Huancayo in the Central Andes – where Andrea spent a month teaching English and a plate that Mat ate a lot during his travels. The base is yellow potatoes and hard-boiled eggs covered in a rich cheese sauce. It feels like a Peruvian version of a potato salad. 
• Ceviche Clasico: Full of zesty flavours marinating the fish, this recipe for Ceviche is awesome. On top of the fresh citrus and cilantro, there are sweet potatoes, corn and leche de tigre (a spicy marinade used in Peruvian dishes). 
• Ceviche Nikkei: This is a Japanese inspired dish made with tuna marinated in soy sauce, lime, leche de tigre, sesame seeds and avocado. 
• Lomo Saltado: A classic dish in Peru – it’s a Peruvian version of steak frites that meets a stew. It consists of thinly cut pieces of steak in a soy glaze with tomatoes, onions and french fries. 
• Aji de Pollo: Pulled chicken with garlic rice seasoned with parmesan cheese, olives, almonds and a hard boiled egg.The flavour in this dish is amazing and keeps you wanting more. 
• Seco de Cordero: A braised lamb shank is never a bad idea. It comes with beans and garlic rice. The meat falls off the bone. 
• Arroz con Mariscos: Peru’s take on paella – fragranced rice packed with seafood (shrimps, octopus, calamari and mussels) with red peppers, peas and corn. This dish is great for sharing, and you still get a generous amount of seafood! 

Going with a few friends is the best way to experience as many of these dishes as possible. Most of the mains come with rice, so it can be heavy but sharing these plates maximises trying as many of Peru’s famous dishes as possible. Peruvian cuisine is different from anywhere else because of the influences coming from Asia and South America that have fusioned their way as a staple into the food there. 

We will definitely be back. 

Eat with you soon,

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)